On Arrival to Barbados

If you’ve taken the plunge and decided to make the move to beautiful Barbados, rest assured we have an entire section devoted to all you need to know about your initial arrival. Let us help to ease you into a happy and stress free entry into the jewel of the Caribbean.

Preliminary Documentation – The Essentials

Whatever the reason for bringing you to live in Barbados – retirement, job posting, furthering your education or learning a new language -your first step is to get your Immigration documentation in order to ensure a smooth transition into your new island life.

If you’re arriving as a visitor, there are specific Barbados Immigration requirements to fulfil in order to be given permission to enter the island. These include holding:

Barbados’ Customs regulations also need to be taken into consideration and adhered to. These are subject to change and therefore we recommend you always confirm the Barbadian regulations prior to you setting of on your journey, and ultimately arriving on the island.

Non-nationals of Barbados seeking to gain employment are required to also possess a valid work permit issued by the Barbados Immigration Department, prior to commencing any work on the island. How on earth does one organise a work permit, you might ask? Never fear, you will find all the information at your fingertips on our Acquiring a Barbados Work Permit page.

All of the above paperwork should be in order before you arrive at the airport in Barbados. Each member of your family, including children, must also have their documentation in order before they arrive on the island, especially if you are looking to enrol them into the Barbadian school system.

Arriving at GAIA – What You Need To Know

Your arrival will most likely be by air into Grantley Adams International Airport.

Once you have touched down in Barbados, you will be required to walk a short distance to the tarmac through to the Immigration hall. This is worth noting if you are a person with special needs, so please do ensure you make appropriate arrangements to cater for your needs upon arrival, prior to you setting off on your travels. The plus side to this is, you immediately get to step straight out into this beautiful island paradise, and so your adventure begins!

Once you are processed through Immigration, you will walk towards the baggage claim. There are porters who are eager to assist you to take your bags from the baggage claim area to your awaiting transportation.

NOTE: The airport is approximately 20 minutes drive from the capital Bridgetown and you can expect to pay between $40 – $50BBD in a taxi to ‘town’.

In the baggage claim area, there is also a small shop for duty free shopping, for those essential last minute island purchases.

After collecting your bags and purchases, you then need to clear Customs. If you have nothing to declare, you can simply proceed through to the awaiting ‘Arrivals‘ area. Otherwise, you will need to declare your items to our Customs officials before leaving the airport.

It’s likely you have already arranged at least some sort of temporary accommodation prior to your arrival, certainly until you have gotten your bearings and are ready to tackle the beginning of your new adventure head on. We, at Totally Barbados, want you to feel as comfortable as possible in your new home right from day one, so we’ve created a section devoted to Settling in at Home in Barbados. We have loads of useful advice to help get you and your family settled into the Barbadian way of life as soon as possible.

Culture Shock – It’s Normal!

And, it’s real.

The term is used to describe the personal anxiety and disorientation experienced both physically and emotionally, whilst living in another country or a place different from your place of origin.

The lifestyle in your new ‘host‘ country can be very different from what you are used to. Things like speaking a different language or dialect, new driving and road rules, and dress code, to name a few.

Culture shock can affect people at different times and in different ways.

You might also experience various phases or stages of culture shock. These phases tend to occur at the beginning of your arrival, but can happen at any time, be ongoing, or appear in isolation, particularly during times of stress.

Overcoming and coping with culture shock can take time, but it is important to recognise the uniqueness of both the home and host cultures and most importantly, take comfort that some sense of culture shock is a normal part of adjusting to a new and different way of life.

Research suggests culture shock can in fact actually have many positive affects including improving self-esteem, developing a better understanding of oneself, and stimulating personal creativity and growth.

For more information, including symptoms and warning signs of culture shock, take a look at our section on ‘Culture Shock‘ for a comprehensive guide on this interesting view towards acclimatising to a new culture.

Job Hunting – Seek And You Shall Find

The best place to start job searching is checking the local newspapers for vacancy listings and employment opportunities. There is a wealth of different industries in Barbados so you’ll find a wide variety of opportunities to put your professional skills to use. It is worthwhile to read our ‘Finding a Job in Barbados‘ page for all the tips and tricks of finding that perfect job in the perfect island paradise that is Barbados!

If you are a non-national to Barbados, make sure you also read our ‘Acquiring a Barbados Work Permit‘ page for all you need to know about ensuring you fulfil our Immigration requirements in relation to working, prior to commencing any employment here on the island.

Our section on ‘Final Preparations‘ can help you ensure that you have everything you may need to make your first few days on our island as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

You might also consider insuring your items while they are being shipped and also once they are unpacked and in your new home.

The Final Steps

Now that you’ve arrived, or you are almost on your way, you can start to look forward to settling into the infamous Caribbean way of life. It can be a challenging ride, but the personal rewards are priceless and it’s important to embrace your journey with positivity and joy.